Braiding-machine.



S. W. WARDWELL.

amnme MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC-12. 1913- Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3SHEETS-SHEET WITNESSES L 79 S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. 1913.

1,197,692. PatenteflSept. 12,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v F W P W ATTORNEYS 8. W1 WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-12.1913.

1,1 97,692 Patented Sept. 12, .1916.-

WITIIIE'ssEs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

fiHwION W. WARDWELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 WARDWELL BBAIDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application 'filed December 12', 1913. Serial No. 806,278.

-mon axis. In this type of machine the braiding process is earned out by deflecting the strands or yarns from one set of supplies to' cause them to follow a sinuous course in and out around the supplies of the other set.

The object of my improvement is to simplif the structure and arrangement of the mec anism for controlling and regulating the deflection of the yarns in sinuating their course around the axis of the machine.

In carrying out my improvement I have decreased the number of parts of the operating-mechanism and reduced their weight, thus being enabled to minimize the effects of momentum and inertia on the moving elements and to therefore provide for a higher rate of operation and increased production'of the whole machine. In addition, my imprm ed construction provides for greater accessibility of the operating-mech- .mism for oiling and adjusting the parts; and also for easier and more simple methods of construction which make for economy in th'e'cbst ofmanufacture.

The invention is fully set forth in the followingspecification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawings:-l igure view of my improved braiding machine, shown, part sectional in a vertical planeextending through its main axis; Fig. 2 IS a developed plan view of a section of the machine, showing several of the supply-carriers for the'upper set of yarn-supplies and illustrating the arrangement of the drivingmeans therefor and the relation of the yarncontrolling devices thereto; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, underneath, plan view of one of the supply-carriers, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, Fig. 1, and showing the relation thereto of one of the yarnl is a front controllers which operates to deflect the sinuating yarn to one side or the other of the carrier; Fig. 4 is'an enlarged, side, view of the yarn-controller; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, plan view of the controller-bracket; Fig. (3 shows a modification in the arrangement of the'camunechanism for operating the yarncontrollers. 7

The present machine is similar in general respects to that described in my United States Patent No. 1,032,870 dated July 16, 1912. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 1 of the present drawings it comprises a main frame or standard A and two oppositely rotating heads or turrets B and C. The outer turret B has a bearing or a series of balls I) mounted'in a race (I. on the main frame A, and the inner turret C is supported on the balls 0 which are held in a race I) on the turret B. The outer turret B carries a bevel gear ring B which, as here shown, is socured thereto by the pins 11 while the inner turret O has a downwarally-extending portion C to which is attached a bevel-gear ring C held in place by the pins 0', or through any other suitable means. The driving-shaft D for the machine is mounted in an overhanging bearing (1 secured to the main frame A, and carries at its outer end the driving pulley D or other suitable means for rotating the shaft. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft D and secured thereto by suitable means, such, for instance, the pin cl, is a bevel-pinion E adapted to mesh with the bevel-gears B and C on the turrets B and C. The pulley D is connected with the shaft D through suitable clutchdevices, not here shown or described, and when power is applied thereto to turn the shaft the gear E serves to rotate the turrets B and C in opposite directions as previously explained.

Mounted on the outer turret B and projecting radially therefrom is a series of brackets F, F, etc., which support the lower tier of yarn-cops, spools or other supplies Y, Y. Suitable tension-devices f, f, etc., on the brackets F act to control the delivery of the yarns 1 from the cops Y, but these are not here shown in detail as they form no part of the present invention. The yarnsupplies X, X, etc., of the upper t1er are arranged above the cops Y, Y W1th their axes extending at right-angles to those of the lower cops, so that, they incline tdvvard the mainaxis of the machine. The yarn-- cops X are mounted on movable supply-carriers G, G, etc., which are constructed with lenticularly-shaped deck-portions g, see Figs. 2 and 3, and depending, arcuate runners g. At the forward or leading ends of'the carriers G the runners g are pointed and project beyond the decks g in sharp, prow-like extensions g". Referring again to Fig. 1, the runners g" are preferably wedge-shaped in cross-section and are fitted to slide in a correspondingly-shaped groove or race It formed in the annulartrack H. The track H is formed as a part of the outer rim of I the turret B and is split up into segments h, it, see Fig. 2, leaving openings above the supply-brackets F in 3 which the yarns 3 from the lower supplies are allowed to play back and forth to adapt them to pass inwardly or outwardly around the carriers G. Any suitable number of yarn-supplies may be employed on the machine and usually the number of cops Y in the lower tier will equal the number of supplies X in the upper tier. As here shown the machine is adapted for eight supplies in each tierr The number of tracl sections h also corresponds to the number of supplies in each tier and when the carriers G for the upper supplies are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the openings in the track H will register with'the spaces bet-ween the ends of the carriers.

The carriers G are caused to revolve about the axis of the machine in the direction opposite to that taken by the lower yarn-supplies Y, and slide in the track H, passing from one section to another across the openings therebetween. The carriers G are impelled to travel on the track H by means of drivers J, J, etc., mounted on the turret C. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, two drivers J are provided for each carrier, each being disposed in a conico-radial guideway in the conical rim 0* of the turret C, see Fig. 1. The guideways consist of slots formed in the upstanding portion of the rim 0* and where the rim overhangs the rim of the turret B the slots are cut clear through the former. Set into the rim of the turret B is a conical cam-plate K formed with the cam groove is, see also Fig. 2. On the under side of each driver J is a stud or roll j fitted to the cam-groove k and adapted to ride therein. The outer ends of the drivers J are adapted to engage with slots or openings y formed in the upstanding lugs gon the carrier-decks As the turret B and the attached cam-plate K rotate .in the opposite direction to that of the turret C, in which latter the drivers are mounted, the cam-grow. e is will act on 'the rolls 7' to alternately pmject the drivers J into and withdraw. them from engagement with the carriers G. The arran ement of the drivers J with respect is at all times engaged by one of its drivers and the drivers of each pair are withdrawn from and returned into engagement with the carrierone after another. This provides that the yarns 1 from the lower supplies, as they sinuate through the upper supplies, will be allowed to pass by on the inside of the carriers, that is, between the carriers and their driving-turret C, without obstruction from the drivers. The drivers J are held in place in their guideways in the turret C by the overlapping, conical rim 1 of a central member L, which takes the form of a cover or bonnet mounted to rotate on an inner, tubular standard M which surmounts the. main frame A. The yarns .r from the upper supply-cops X pass through suitable tension-devices, not here shown, and draw up across the top of a beater-device N which projects upwardly from the center of the bonnet L. The yarns ;2 from the lower supply-cops Y also converge at this point and merge with the yarns to form the braid which is fed from the machine by suitable take-up devices not here shown and described.

In the machine of my patent previously referred to the meansfor shifting the yarns from the lower supplies to deflect them in and out around the upper supplies consists of switches, so-called, arranged to alternately open and close the passageways between the carriers and their driving-head or turret. In this previous arrangement the switches are operated vfrom a cam or cams inclosed within the main framework of the machine. In my present improvement I dispense with the switches and direct the sinuating yarns through the means of controlling members arranged around the rim of the turret I5 and operated from a cam also positioned on the outside of the machine. The controllers for the sinuating yarns or threads 'l/ consist of a novel form of crotch-like members having divergent arms or branches across which the lo\\'er.yarns draw as they lead up past the upper supply-carriers .Normally, the yarns 1 rest in the central crotch or depression 0* of the controllers O and are influenced by the movement of the latter to be deflected slightly one way or the other to pass them by the supply-carriers G. The yarns 1 are free, however, to slide outward on the branches 0 0 of the crotch when they pass into engagement with the curved edges of the carriers. G, the latter having a plow-like action to force the yarns aside. The arrangement andv method ofoperation of this part of the machine will now be described in detail.

The controllers O are preferably constructed of relatively stiff wire, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, or they might be made from sheet-metal if desired. 1. i n I .71, A'AL,.L

portion and an offset slide-bar or rod 0, the latter having its. lower end formed .up with a flat bottom or foot-piece o. .The'footpiece 0 serves as ashoe adapted to slide on the face I). of the operating cam P, as more particularly explained hereinafter. If de- .s ired, the end of the slide-bar 0 could be pfii ided with' a bearin for a roller arranged to roll on the cam but as the movement required of. the. controller is'relatively slightand since its positioning need not be defined with extreme a'ccuracy,'such provision against-wear is not-important. The

controllers O-are preferably arranged to slide in bearingscarried on the'brackets F whichcarry. the lower yarn-supplies -Y, it

. be constructed as castings, made integral" with, the brackets F. Each bracket'R is saidbrackets F to the turretB, see Fig. 4.-

The brackets V R are here illustrated as formed up from sheet metal, but theymight formed with a=main-plate-portion fr having a hole r through which the screw f passes,

see Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Bent at-right-angles to the plate 7 is an arm 1" formed With-two opposite, hook-like guiding-lugs r 1"; Beneath the lug'r isa-third guiding-lug 1 ""bent around in the opposite direction, and

in the hook 0 The hook 0 acts to prevent at the bottom of the extension r of the plate ris a U-shaped guide-bearing r. The slidebar 0 of the controller 0 is adapted to slide-in the guiding-lugs or-bea'rings r, r and riand is held: from turning therein by the lug T which engages the elbow-portion 0- of the offset crotch-portion Q, see Fig. 4. The controller 0 'might' beopermted by gravity to maintain its footpiece or shoe 0 bearing against the face of the earn-P, but I prefer to employ a relatively light spring S for this purpose. As here shown, the spring S-is secured at its lower end-to a'lug 1' on the bracket extension 1".- and its upper end is hooked' around the offset elbow-portion 0 of the controller 0. The main crotch-portion O of the controller-O is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, and comprises "the two curved arms 0 ,0 which'diverge from the central V-shaped depression or guideway o with the outer-arm 0 terminating the yarn l from accidentally sliding off from the end of the branch 0 and the curved form of-thetwoarms 0 0 is designed toassist the yarn in sliding down into the depression 0, Formed up from an extension of the arm 1, of the bracket R is a looped finger r which-serves as a guard to prevent the up against the turret.

yarn y from catching in the, projecting por-' tions of the bracket and also assists in threading it into the crotch of the controller O.

-Referring now to Fig. 1, the cam P which operates the yarn cont'rollers O is here "shown asbeing constructed as a part of a ring-member T which mounted on the main frame A of the machine. The member T serves as a brake-ring and is formed with a tapered face tladapted to frictionally engage a correspondingly-shaped. face I) on the turret B to check the'rotation of the latter and cause a prompt stopping of the mafchi n e.. This engagement is effected through a'sli'g'ht rotaey movement of thebrake-ring whichila'cts to bring into engagement suitable \'vedge-devices" for forcing the -ring These devices are fully set forth in my United States Patent No. 1,008,504, granted Noin'l l, 1911, and

"need not here be described in detail as they,

form no-part of the present invention. :Suf

fice it to explain that the brake 'rihg lY-has' only a very limited movement, eitherajroahii; the machine in an upward (ii-mandatingthat normally, during the operation of the. braiding-mechanism, it remains stationary on'the' frame A, being held in position by suitable detent-rneans. F or this reason, and since has a convenient location, I "make" use of the brake-ring T a' support for the circular cam P, as before described. I have also preferred to show the'cani'j P as made integral-with the ring T, but-it might be constructed as 'a' separate" part attached thereto. It is alsb obvious-that the can P could be attached tokor made a part of the main frame A, itsessential characteristic beingthat during the operation of the machine it-"remain's stationfii ry with respect to the rotating turret B wh'ch carries the yarn controllers 0. development ofe e form of the cam-face p of the 'camP- a d its relation to'the controllers 0. As here illustrated, the face P In Fig. 2, I have shown a of the cam is termed witha-series of four I rises p, p and-an equal number of-alternately arranged depressions 19 p The controllers O are shown inialternate engage ment with the high and low points of the' cam and this arrangemen is adapted for producing plain braid, jsb-callgd'. \Vith this style of am the controllers are shifted to cause each low 'r yarn y to pass first to'the outside of two 0 the upper yarn-carriers G; then 'on the insideof the next two'carriers; nexton the outsideof the following two cariiersand so on around'the machine as more particularlypointed out hereinafter. Other forms of'cafns can be substituted to vary the timingbf the operation of the controllers and in this way any particular pattern can be producedin the f -alg rig silch, for instance, as ket?sla ed seria ed in which the;

- series engaging different earns.

' not here shown, 25

the'lower ends of the controllers 0 different ones can be madeto engage the different camsP and P. If\ desired, four camsof different forms could e provided and with such simple changes a reat variety of patterns can be produced in the braid.

"The operation of the complete machine is as follows: The yarns w from the upper supply-cop X are led through tension-device's,

y from the lower supply-cops Y are threaded through the tension-devices f, thence across the crotch-portions 0 of the controllers O and up to the braiding-point where they merge with the yarns w. When power is applied to the drive-shaft D the turret B is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow '2, Fig. 2,

I and the turret C is rotated'in theopposite then acts to plow the yarns aside to pass direction as indicated by the arrow 3. The turret C is connected by the drivers J to slide the carriers G on the track H, with the carriers traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow 3. while the track is rotating in the opposite direction, as indicated by. the arrow '2. The turret B carries, besides the track H, the supply-cops Y and the yarn-controllers 0 so that these latter pass thecarriers G during their revolution in the opposite direction thereto. The tension applied to the yarns 3 as they draw up from the cops Y tends to normally maintain each varn in the crotch or guideway 0* of its controller. As the controllers ride over the undulating face of the cam P, which latter is stationary on the main frame of the machine, a slight oscillation, or rising and falling motion, will be transmitted to them to deflect the yarns y to one side or the other of the sharp prows g of the carriers G. The yarns y are thus engaged by the prows with a sort of selective action which serves to put them to one side or the other until thev come into contact with the curved edge of the carrier-deck. The edge of the deck them by the yarn-cops X carried by the car- .flriers. During this action the yarns 3 will slide outwardly and inwardly across the arms 0", 0 of the controllers 0, but after and thence to the gathering or braiding-point ab0ve the center of the machine. The yarns passing each carrier each yarn y will slide back again into the guiding-crotch 0 so as to assume its proper position to be directed by the controller against one side or the other of the next carrier. motion of the controllers. which acts to shift the yarns y with respect to the carriers G can be regulated according to the pattern desired in the fabric through the employment of different forms of cams as previously described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the cam P here shown in developed contour will actuate the controllers with respect to the carriers in the following manner: Starting with the controller O at the extreme left-hand, this is shown with its foot-piece or shoe 0 on the" low point ofthe fcam face p. Consequently thecontroller will be in its lowermost position and it .is to be noted that the guideway or crotch 0 is so related to the prow g of the carrier G that the yarn will pass to the inside of the latter as the two move toward each other. That is to say, the yarn y will come into contact with the pointed prow g on its inner side as the controller moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, and the carrier moves in the;

direction indicated by the arrow 3. Now, during this opposite movement of the controller and carrier the yarn y will be pushed to the inside by the prow g and coming into contact with the curved edge of the carrierdeck 9 it will be still further deflected toward the axis of the machine so as to pass it by on the inside of the supply-cop X. As the yarn y passes throughthe opening or channel between the carrier G and its driving-turret C thedrivers J are alternately withdrawn from engagement with the carrier to prevent obstruction to its movement, this action taking place through the operation of the cam K as previously described. In this way the yarn 7 is caused to pass by the supply-cop X so that it will weave in under the yarn at this point in the formation of the braid V. The cam P here illustrated has four high points and four low points, and there are eight carriers G, and eight controllers for the lower yarns 1 Hence. since the cam P remains stationary while both the carriers Ur and yarn-controllers O are rotating in opposite directions at equal rates of speed, any one controller will pass from the low point to the high point of the cam only after it has passed bv the leadin" points or prows of two carriers. Considering the first left-hand controller, for example, this will remain depressed or in its lowermost position until it reaches the position of the next controller to the right as illustrated in Fig. 2, and during this time the carrier next adjacent the controllertothe right will have passed it, and the succeeding or following carrier will also have met the This oscillating controller and passed it to such an extent that the yarn will be deflected to its inner edge. Stated briefly. with the arrangement here shown, each controller deflects its yarn to the inside of two carriers before being shifted to throw the yarn onto the outside of a carrier. In the same way, the second controller from the left, as shown in Fig. 2, will deflect its yarn on to the outer edges of two passing carriers before being shifted to pass the yarn to the inside, and this sequence of operations takes place all around the machine. It is also called to attention that, with this arrangement of the yarncontrollers in alternate engagement with the high and low points of the cam, while any one of the lower yarns is passing-over two of the upper yarns m the next following yarn 7 will pass under the first one of this pair and over the other one. In other words, each following yarn y splits the pair of yarns 0a which the previous yarn 3 has passed over and the same thing occurs in passing the yarns y under the-yarns .r, so that the crossing of the yarns is progressive and the pattern resulting is what is usually termed plain braid. It will also be observed that it is a very simple matter to alter the form of the cam P to produce a single over and under motion of the yarns for producing basket braid, or to employ several cams for making more complicated patterns.

The essential feature of novelty of my invention consists in the means for control-- ling thesinuating yarns without engaging them rigidly or positively. That is to say, the yarns 3 are not threaded through guideeyes or hooks operated by articulated, swinging arms to move them through relatively long, arcuate paths or with an extended up and down movement. It is particularly called to attention that the movement of the yarn-controllers is very slight, merely a small fraction of an inch. and the main deflection of the yarns is effected through the plowlike action of the carriers as they pass through the shed of the yarns. In other words, myimproved form of yarn-controller simply acts to shift the yarn a very slight distance so that it engages with one side or the other of the prow of the carrier and further deflection is caused by the engagement of the yarn with the edge of the carrier. The novel crotch-like form of the yarn-controller here shown provides that the yarn will always return to its normal position in the crotch or guideway so as to assume its proper relation to the leading ends of the carriers which it meets in its path around the machine. At the same time the yarn is not restricted by the controller from passing freely in or out around the carrier. That is to say. it can be slid readilyon the branches of the crotch so as to provide for an unhindered passage over or under the several supply-cops of the upper tier. It is my belief that this novel form of shiftable crotch-member for controlling the yarns which are to be deflected to one side or the other of the passing carrier, while allowing them to slide in and out on the controller without hindrance, is entirely new in the art. The principal advantages resulting from this improvement are as follows: The

yarns are not subjected to undue tension or strain in directing their course through the machine; neither are they chafed or abraded from being passed through guide-eyes or from being bent at sharp angles. Reference to Fig. 1 will illustrate this point as it will be seen that the yarns y are deflected but very slightly from a straight course between their supplies and the braiding-point.- Another point to be noted is that the movement required of the controllers for the yarns is very slight and furthermore the cam for operating the controllers is of relatively great diameter so that no abrupt rises on its engaging face are required. These features make for greater durability of the mechanism and also provide for a higher speed of operation and increased production of the whole machine. In addition, the operating parts being arranged on the outside of the machine are more accessible for oiling and adjustment, and the whole mechanism is much more simple and easier to manufacture.

Various modifications besides those herein specified might be made in the form and structure of my new device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

'Therefore, without limiting myself to the exact construction shown and described, what I claim is 1. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yar n-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions, of yarn-controllers having guideways in which the yarns are normally maintained under the tension thereon, said guideways formed with branches across which the yarns are free to play, and means to actuate the controllers to shift the yarns to cause them to be deflected in and out around the supplies of the other set.

.2. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plu 'ality of yarn-controllers provided with crotch-like guideways for the yarn to draw across and branches extending laterally therefrom to adapt the yarn to play therealong after it has been deflected out of the guideways. and means to shift the position of the yarn-controllers radially with respect to the axis of the machine during the operation thereof.

3. In a braiding machine the combination with two sets of yarn-supplies, of means torotate one set of supplies with respect to the other set, yarn-controllers having diverging yarn-guiding branches along which the yarns from one set of supplies are adapted to play and notches intermediate the guidingbranches in which the yarns are normally maintained by the tension of their draft, and means to actuate the yarn-controllers to diroot the yarns radially inward or outward during the rotation of their supplies past the supplies of the other set.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions, of yarn-controllers having guiding-faces against which the yarns from one set of supplies are heldunder tension, said yarn-co ntrollers arranged to guide the yarns in a mean orbital path around the machine while allowing them to bedeflected therefrom to play radially across their guiding-faces, and means to operate the controllers to shift the yarns to cause them to be deflected in and out around the supplies of the other 'set.

5. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of carriers revolving about the axis of the machine, of a series of yarnsupplies carried by said carriers, a second series of yarn-supplies revolving in-the opposite direction, means to guide the yarns from the second series of supplies in a definite orbital path with respect to the carriers of the first series, said means adapted to permit said yarns to play freely inward or outward in a radial direction without restriction except from the contact of the yarns therewith to allow the carriers to deflect the yarns from their mean path, and means to shift the yarn-guiding means radially with respect to the axis of the machine during their revolution therearound.

6. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets with the supplies of one set revolving past those of the opposite set, of shiftable yarn-controllers for the yarns of one set of supplies, said yarn-controllers having substantially radial guiding-faces across which the yarns draw and depressions in said guiding-faces for maintaining the yarns in a mean orbital path as the supplies are revolved about the axis of the machine, while also allowing the yarns to be deflected radially out of the depressions to play along the guiding-faces to pass the yarns in and out around the supplies of the other set, and means to shift the yarn-controllers intermittently during the operation of the machine.

7. In a braiding machine. the combination with two sets of varn-sl 1pplies. of means for revolying the supplies of one set with respect to the supplies of the other set. varncontrollers having a'uidiuu'rrotches through which the .yarn'sirom ne set of supplies (lraw and' lagtqraljiant-hes extending from each side of the crotches in a direction substantlally radial to the axis of the machine,

and means to actuate the yarn-controllers to direct the yarnsto one side or the other of the supplies which they pass whereby the in sets with the supplies of one set revolving past those of the otherset, of'carriers for carrying one set of supplies, yarn-controllers having guideways across which the yarns from the other set draw to maintain them in a normal path of revolution while allowing them tobe deflected radially therefrom, said controllers formed with portions diverging laterally from their guideways to lead the yarns back to normal position therein after they have been deflected there from, and means to operate the controllers to shift the yarns to cause them to be deflected by the carriers to pass them in and out around'the supplies carried thereby.

9. In av braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions about acommon axis, of means to pcriodically shift the position of the yarns leading from one set of supplies to cause them to be deflected in and out around the supplies of the other set, said means comprising oscillating controllers having crotchportionsacting to normally maintain the yarns in a predetermined relation to the axis ofthe machine, but adapted to allow the yarns to play radially in and out with respect to the crotches whereby said yarns are adapted to pass around the oppositelymoving yarn-supplies without having their free movement restricted by the controllers.

10. In a braiding machin the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions, with the yarns from one set leading past the supplies of the other set, of controllers traveling with one set of supplies and passing the supplies of the otherset. said controllers having crotch-portions adapted to normally maintaintheirrelated yarns in a predetermined relation to the passing supplies but to allow theyarns to play across the branches of their crotches as they pass around said supplies, and means to shift the controllers to regulate the order of passing of the yarns in and out around the supplies. v

11. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, of yarncontrollers havin crotch-like guideways across which the yar from one set ofsupplies draw, devices for maintaining tension -on the said yarns to normally retain them in the crotches of the controllers, and means to operate the controllers to shift the yarns to a relatively slight extent'only to cause them to be deflected to one side or the other of the supplies of the other set during which movement of deflection the yarns are forced out of'the crotches of the controllers while passing around the said supplies.

12. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, of a series of crotch-like yarncontrollers across which the'yarns from the supplies of one set lead, said yarn-controllers formed with divergent branches extending laterally from their crotches across, which the yarns are adapted to play, and cams engaging said controllers in seriesto operate the latter to shift the yarns to a relatively slight extent only whereby they will becaused to be de flected by the action of thesupplies of the other set to follow-av sinuous course to effect the braiding operation,

13. In a braiding, n aghine,itlie combination with two sets' o ,,yarnsupl)lies, of. a rotating memberficai; vingu'one set of supplies, a second 'I'nembe rotating in the opposite direction, means to revolve the other set of suppliesby and with the second member, yarn-controllers mounted on the first member and formed with crotches for guiding the yarns from the supplies carried by said member, said controllers also having branches extending laterally from their crotches across which the yarns are free to play. and a cam to operate said controllers to shift the yarns to a relatively slight extent only to cause them to be deflected by the action of the supplies revolving in the opposite direction to ,sinuate one set of yarns through the other set.

11. In a braiding machine, the combination with two rotating'turrets, of two sets of yarn-supplies revolved in opposite directions by said turrets, carriers for one set of supplies, yarn-controllers carried by one turret and formed with crotches across which the yarns from the supplies on said turret draw, said controllers also having branches diverging from their crotches acrosswlnch the yarns are free to play, and a stationary cam for oscillating said controllers to shift the varns to a relativelyslight extent only to cause them to be deflected from the crotches in opposite directions by the action of the carriers of the other setof supplies.

15. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies, of revolving carriers to carry one set of supplies,

.means to revolve the other set of supplies pastsaid carriers in the opposite direction, Yarn-controllers revolving with the second said tion with two sets of yarn-supplies, of carriers revolving about the axisof the machine and carrying one set of supplies, means to revolve the other set of supplies in the opposite direction, yarn-controllers revolving with the second set of yarn-supplies,

controllers formed with guidingcrotches through which the yarns'normally I draw, and branches diverging from their crotches along which the yarns are free'to play, and means to actuate the controllers to shift the yarns to either side of the leading ends of the carriers whereby the latter act to deflect the yarns out from the guiding crotches to pass them around the supplies carried by the carriers.

17. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn-supplies, of plowlike carriers revolving about the axis. of the machine and carrying one set ofsupplies,

means to revolve the other set of supplies in the opposite direction, yarn-controllcrs revolving with the second set of supplies, said yarn-controllers having crotches? tl'n-oughwhich the yarns normally draw and branches diverging 'the'refrom along which the yarns are free to play, and means to operate the controllers to cause them to shift the yarns to one side or the other of the carriers whereby the carriers cooperate. therewith to lift the yarns out of the crotches and to deflect them around the supplies carried by the carriers. v

18. In a braiding machine, the combination .with two sets of yarn-supplies, of a plurality of lenticularly-shaped carriers for carrying one set of supplies, means to revolve the carriers about the axis of the machine, means for revolving the other set of yarn-supplies in the opposite direction,

yarn-controllers revolved with the second set of supplies, said yarn-controllers formed with guiding-crotches. adapted to'regulate the normal positions of the yarns and branches extending from the crotches along 'which the yarns are free to play, and means leiiticularly-shaped sides and pointed ends, means to revolve the. carriers and their supplies about the axis of the machine, means to evolve the other set of supplies in the opposite direction, yarn-controllers revolving withthe second set of supplies, said controllers formed with crotch-like guideways in which the yarns from the adjacent supplies normally lie and branches across which the yarns are adapted to play, and means to operate the controllers during their movement around the machine to cause them to direct the yarns to one side or the other of. the pointed ends of the carriers whereby-the sides of the carriers act to disengage the yarns from the crotches and to slide themon the branches of the controllers in passing them around the supplies carried by the carriers. V Y

20. In'a braiding machine, the combination of two turrets rotating in opposite di rections, an annular track on one of the turrets, carriers adapted to slide on the track and to carry a set of yarn-supplies, drivingmeans on the second turret to slide the carriers around the tracldmeans for carrying another set-of supplies on the first turret, yarncontrollers carried on the first turret and arranged adjacent the yarns from th supplies, said yarn-controllers having crotches through which the yarns draw and lateral. branches along which the yarns are free to play, and a camto shift the controllers to determine the positions of the yarns in relation to the carriers to cause them to be deflected by the action of the carriers to pass them to one side or the other of the supplies rarried thereby.

21. In a braiding machine. the combination with two seis cf yarn-supplies, of carriers for revolving one set'of supplies, said carriers formed with lenticularly-shaped sides and sharp-pointed prow-like projec ,1 tions on their leading ends, means to revolve the other set of supplies in the opposite'direcion from the carriers, yarn controllers carried by said means, said yarn-controllers formed with crotches through which the yarns draw and lateral branches along which'the yarns are free to play, and means to oscillate the controllers durin their movement past the carriers to shift the yarns drawing through the crotches to direct themto one side or the other of the prows of the carriers whereby the sides of the latter engage the yarns to deflect them out from the by the supplies carried by the carriers.

22. In a braiding machine, the combination with carriers for revolving one set of yarn-supplies about the axis of the machine, of sliding yarn-controllers revolved past said carriers with the other set of supplies, said controllers formed with crotches through which the yarns draw and branches extending laterally therefrom along which the yarns are free to play, a cam engaging the ends of the controllers to reciprocate the crotches of the controllers and pass them latter, and resilient means for maintaining the controllers in engagement with the cam.

23. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn-supplies arranged in sets revolving in opposite directions, of carriers for carrying one set of supplies, yarn-controllers having crotches engaging the yarns from the other set of supplies while allowing them to move free of the crotches and laterally therefrom without restricting the movement of said yarns in certain dlrections, and means to actuate the controllers to shift the yarns engaging therewith to cause the latter to coact with the supply-carriers to be deflected thereby to one side or the other of the supplies carried by said carriers.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

snuox w. WARDWELL. Vitnesses DANIEL McNIvE'x, CARL CHRISTEXSEN. 

